PH Residential Unit: Redefining Interior Layouts and a Cohesive Façade
Residential Flexibility as a Design Principle
The reshaping and expansion of this PH-type residential unit on the ground floor stem from a fundamental functional question: How can a single dwelling accommodate two different usage scenarios without compromising its living quality?
Potential Usage Scenarios
Primarily, the residence is suitable for use as a single unit dedicated to one family, benefiting from the private terrace as a direct extension of the interior space. Conversely, the design allows for a future possibility of dividing the unit into two independent residences, one on the ground floor and the other spanning the first and second floors.
From Fixed Layout to Adaptable Planning
Between these two possibilities, the project approaches the interior layout as a flexible framework rather than a fixed distribution. The spatial organization accommodates changes in living patterns over time without requiring major structural interventions.
Architectural Reading
In this sense, the reshaping does not merely enhance the existing space; it presents a design approach that anticipates future transformations in the dwelling’s use and highlights the role of architecture in reconciling the present with upcoming possibilities.
A Construction Strategy Adaptable to Evolution
The project’s fundamental approach relies on introducing a new structural element that balances stability and flexibility. This element takes the form of a concrete slab designed from the outset to accommodate potential future expansions, allowing the functional program to evolve without requiring a comprehensive reconstruction.
Lightweight Roof and Its Functional Role
Conversely, a lightweight roof composed of insulating panels was chosen to reduce structural loads while maintaining the required thermal performance. This contrast between heavy and light elements reflects an awareness of load distribution and distinguishes between what must remain permanent and what can be modified later.
Detachable and Reusable Façade
The façade employs the same technique as the roof but serves an additional function: it can be dismantled and reassembled. In this way, the façade transforms from a fixed element into a flexible layer that can be repurposed as needed.
Design Interpretation
Through this strategy, the building is not seen as a completed, final state but as an open system responsive to gradual change. It grants the project the capacity to evolve without losing its structural or architectural coherence.
Functional Layout Responsive to Light and Privacy
In its current configuration as a single-family residence, the project is based on a clear separation between private and public spaces according to the characteristics of each floor.
Ground Floor: Privacy First
Given that the ground floor receives more limited natural light and enjoys a higher degree of isolation from the surrounding environment, it has been allocated to accommodate the bedrooms. This choice enhances the sense of privacy and tranquility while taking advantage of the floor’s more enclosed nature.
Upper Floor: Openness and Connection to the Exterior
Conversely, the public spaces are located on the upper floor, where lighting conditions are better and openness is greater. These spaces are directly connected to a north-facing terrace, providing a comfortable outdoor extension and strengthening the relationship between the interior and the open environment.
Architectural Reading
This layout reflects a precise understanding of the relationship between function, light, and orientation, transforming environmental differences between floors into a design tool that enhances living comfort and the quality of daily use.
Integrating Interior and Exterior Spaces
In the dining area, the design removes the glass enclosures to create a semi-covered extension aimed at enhancing visual and spatial connectivity between the interior and exterior. This approach opens up the space, providing a sense of fluidity while allowing natural light and air to enter more freely.
Vertical and Visual Elements Connecting Levels
Accompanying the staircase that links the two levels is a vertical wooden volume, serving both functional and aesthetic architectural purposes. This volume is capped with a glass panel that ensures visual continuity with the lightweight roof, enhancing the sense of openness and creating a balance between solid and light materials within the space.
Design Interpretation
This arrangement reflects a careful consideration of smooth transitions between different levels, using light and materials to highlight harmony between interior and exterior without compromising the function of each space.
Unifying the Façade Between Original and Contemporary
At the façade level, the design focuses on unifying the original building with the extension by adopting a single color across all finishes. This provides a cohesive appearance and reduces the visual contrast between old and new elements.
Material Selection: Simplicity to Enhance Harmony
The choice of materials is limited to a select set, including wood, granite mosaic, iron, and sheet metal. This simplicity contributes to visual harmony and allows the contemporary intervention to connect with the original structure without excessive complexity or disrupting the architectural character of the units.
Design Interpretation
Through this approach, a visual and functional balance is achieved between the original building and the new extension, while preserving the distinctive identity of the PH units. The façade thus reflects a refined harmony between tradition and modernity, creating an aesthetically pleasing and coherent expression.
✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight
It can be noted that the project provides clear flexibility in spatial distribution and careful attention to the relationship between interior and exterior, representing a notable strength in the use of natural light and ventilation. However, several architectural issues still require deeper study.
For instance, dividing the unit into two independent residences in the future may pose challenges for the sustainability of infrastructure, such as utility networks, sound insulation, and natural lighting distribution, which could affect the quality of life if not addressed carefully.
Similarly, relying on a limited and simple material palette for the façade contributes to visual harmony but may reduce the design’s ability to respond to long-term weather and environmental changes. Likewise, the use of a lightweight roof and detachable panels allows for adaptability, yet it requires continuous structural monitoring to ensure safety and reliability.
Practitioners and architects can benefit from this project as a case study in flexible planning and the integration of different residential functions, while keeping in mind the necessity of addressing operational and structural challenges before implementing such strategies on a broader scale.
